Lifting apparatus



No. 6I7,828. Patented lan. I7, |899.

F. A. salmon. LIFTING APPARATUS.

(Application led Apr. S, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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FRANKLIN A. GORDON,

OF FLORA, MINNESOTA.

LIFTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,828, dated January 17, 1899.

Application filed April 8, 1898.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. GORDON, residing at Flora, in the county of Renville and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved Lifting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lifting mechanism for elevating wagon-boxes, hay-racks, dac., and suspending them while not in use; and it primarily has for its object to provide a mechanism of this character of a very simple and inexpensive nature which can be easily manipulated and which will effectively serve for its intended purposes.

The invention also has for its obj ect to provide a mechanism of this kind having a series of lifting-ropes and supporting-posts and a single supporting-Windlass adj ustably mounted and adapted to be operatively connected with any one of the lifting-ropes.

In its subordinate features this invention embodies certain novel features of construction and peculiar combination of parts, which I will now proceed to describe in detail and then point out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, the lift-rope being shown elevated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the adjustable Windlass mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the adjustable clamp and lift-rod devices hereinafter more specifically referred to.

In the practical construction of my invention I provide a series of posts 1, having overhanging cross-beams 2, suitably braced by the diagonal beams 3,from which are hung pendent guide-pulleys 4 4 for the lift-ropes 5, each of which has one end provided Wi th hook members 5, whereby they can be readily connected with the windlass-shaft, and the other end connected with the Wagon-body or hay-rack engaging devices, which will presently be more particularly referred to.

C indicates a horizontal beam secured on the front end of the posts 1, having upper and lowerflanges 6,forming a track for the grooveframe 7, on which are mounted the windlass devices, which consist of a tubular shaft 8, mounted in inwardly-projecting angle mem- Serial No. 676,920. (No model.)

bers 7L of the wndlassframe, which are se curely braced by the stay-bolts 9, which are of the same length as the shaft.

It will be noticed the end members of the windlass-frame are so extended and the shaft journaled therein in such a mannertthat the large gear-wheel will pass and be held free from engaging the stay-bolts 9, such gear being held in mesh with the drive-pinion 1l on the crank-shaft 12.

13 indicates hooks pivotally attached to the Windlass-f rame and adapted to engage staples 14 on the posts to strengthen and brace the Windlass-frame in its adjusted positions.

The object in making the windlass-frame adjustable is that when one box or rack has been removed and elevated the rope on which it is suspended may be detached from the shaft and secured to the post and the frame moved on the track-rail to another post and again used for raising another boX, and so on until any number may have been elevated.

As a simple means for connecting the lifting-rope with wagon-boxes and racks of different widths and heights, I have provided the mechanism illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, which comprises a pair of clamp-plates 15, having central concavities 15 and end concavities 15b, which when the plates are bolted together form a central passage for the end of the lift-rope and end apertures for the shanks 16 of the laterally-swinging hangers 16,the lower ends of which carry cuff members 1Gb, provided with set-screws 16C, whereby the lift-rods 17 may be attached vertically to any desired position, and that the said lift-rods may be rmly gripped within the said cuff members such cuff members and the griprods may have their coacting faces roughened or serrated, as shown. The lower ends of the lift-rods terminate in eyes 17 a to receive the ends of the combined supporting and lift bars 18, which, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, are passed under the Wagon-body when the said lift devices have been properly lowered.

It will be observed by providing the bodyengaging devices as shown the lift-rods can be swung inward to engage Wagon-bodies of different widths and held against the sides of such body by any suitable means, it being also manifest that by making the said liftrods 17 vertically adjustable they can be read- IOO ily fitted to wagon-bodies and hay-racks of different heights.

As an additional means for holding the wagon-body elevated after the windlass has been disconnected from the lift-rod, I provide a bar 20, which is attached at the upper end near the outer guide pulley and hangers down in line with the lift-rope, so that when the wagon-body is elevated by drawing the liftrope up a hook 21 on the lower end of the hanger-arm 20 will come under the clamp 15, and thereby support the load and hold the boxes suspended when the windlass-frame is moved, it being obvious that when its supplemental hanger 20 :is used it will not be necessary to make fast the windlass end of the lift-rope after it has been disconnected from the said windlass. One supplemental support is used for each set of rods 17.

In operation the windlass is connected with the lift-rope 5 over one end of the Wagon and that end of the wagon-body raised until the clamp-plate 15 of the lift device connected by such rope engages the hook 21 above it. The windlass is then shifted and connected with the next rope and lift devices, which may be disposed midway of or at the other end of the Wagon and elevated as before.

It Will be observed that but one windlass mechanism is employed for operating any number of independent lift-ropes, and by provid-ing a supplemental support adapted to engage the clamp end of the wagon-bodyengaging lift members a positive support is provided for holding the body elevated and is of such nature that the said body can be released therefrom by simply elevating it slightly, so the clamp 15 will become disengaged from the hook 21. Furthermore, by providing adjustable box-engaging devices, as shown, the said lift mechanism is adapted for being conveniently and practically connected with wagon-boxes and hay-racks of different heights and widths. The construction is of a very simple nature and can be readily put up by an unskilled laboi er.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A lifting mechanism, comprising a plurality of supporting-posts arranged in alinement, pendent guides; a lift-rope for each supporting-post having means for attaching to a wagon-body or hay-rack; a horizontallydisposed guide-beam joining the several posts; and a windlass mechanism slidable on the guide-beam, substantially as shown and described.

2. A lifting mechanism, comprising a supporting-frame; a series of independently-operated elevating-ropes, means at one end of each rope for attaching to a Wagon-body, and the other end arranged to be detachably secured to the windlass; and a windlass slidably mounted on the supporting-frame and adapted to successively connect with the independently-operated lift-ropes, as and for the purposes shown and described.

3. In a lifting mechanism as described, the

combination with posts the supporting guidebeam joining such posts; and the independently-operating lift-ropes, Wagon-body attaching means; of a windlass mechanism slidingly held on the guide-beam, said members having grooved portions to engage the guidebeam, longitudinal stay-bolts, the windlassshaft, drive-gearing therefor, and the bracerods; and supplemental means held pendent FRANKLIN A. GORDON.

Witnesses:

A. D. MOLEAN, GEORGE M. BRoWNE. 

